Chapter 258: Chapter 258

As the words fell, Xie Heng's face turned pale again, especially when he saw that An Ning's expression beside him showed almost no fluctuation, with the only emotion being mostly curiosity.

Yet even this sole emotion wasn't directed at him, as the woman before him turned her head with a somewhat puzzled expression toward the richly dressed man beside her wearing identical embroidery patterns, their clothing clearly from the same source.

The unfinished lotus lantern in her hand flickered slightly.

Under the moonlight, her clear, water-like eyes seemed to ask, why suddenly have the mind to play matchmaker?

Reaching out to wrap his wife's exposed small hand back into his palm, Situ Jing soon said with a warm smile:

"Nothing, just feeling how time flies so quickly. Our Rui'er will soon be seven years old, yet cousin has remained solitary all these years. Not only is Aunt worried, but even I find it rather unbearable to watch!"

Under Mu Yang's wildly twitching eyebrow nearby, though somewhat suspicious, An Ning didn't take it to heart. She continued enthusiastically placing the freshly written wish slip into the lantern. Watching it float away exceptionally smoothly across the lake surface nearly covered with lanterns, completely unobstructed, the two couldn't help but cheer softly.

It must be said, the original body's luck was truly impressive to a certain degree.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, cousin. It's just that I'm accustomed to freedom and currently have no intention of starting a family. Nor... do I wish to delay any good family's young lady..."

Though saying this, Situ Jing's eyes held little amusement as he thoughtfully wiped his wife's palm while continuing casually:

"I've long heard cousin is devoted to poetry and literature. In earlier years, you personally visited multiple places just for an ancient text, showing true dedication. I suppose you simply haven't met a kindred spirit yet, which delayed matters until now..."

If his face was merely pale before, then at the words "kindred spirit," Xie Heng's face instantly lost all color. No matter how hard he tried to maintain composure, the pain in his eyes was visible to everyone present.

If it was just speculation before, now An Ning was basically seventy percent certain.

Thinking about the original body's distressing matters from her previous life, this was really...

Only after the couple departed arm in arm did Mu Yang pull her unlucky brother aside and scold angrily:

Besides, who was it that spoke without mercy back then, nearly causing her little friend to have an accident? Now A-Ning is already married, yet you're still here playing the lovesick role!

Shooting her unlucky brother a hateful glance, she finally got to play with A-Ning outside the palace for a while, and now this happened.

With this performance, no wonder their mother had restricted his palace visits these past few years!

But thinking of her brother's despondency over recent years, Mu Yang couldn't help sighing again.

Why do people always understand value only after losing things? Isn't this just that saying?

"Second Brother, maybe you should listen to cousin's advice, stop being , properly find someone..."

"Ah! No, better forget it. Second Brother, if you're , wouldn't marrying someone just delay them?"

What decent family's young lady would want a husband whose heart belongs to another? This is simply too insulting...

Gazing wistfully at her little friend's retreating figure, Mu Yang couldn't help muttering softly, unaware that her unlucky brother's face grew several shades paler.

On the other side, toying with the rabbit lantern someone had just won, An Ning looked curiously at the person beside her.

If she wasn't sure nothing was wrong with him, with that razor-sharp, precisely targeted efficiency earlier, she might have suspected this person knew something!

"Actually not hard to guess, isn't it?"

Holding his wife's hand tightly, Situ Jing chuckled softly: "A-Ning and Mu Yang have known each other since childhood, sharing deep bonds. The time spent coming and going from the Grand Princess's residence was considerable. Under such circumstances, still waiting until your husband arrived—the reasons aren't difficult to deduce!"

A-Ning remained somewhat naive about matters of emotion, seeking only peace and freedom. Under such conditions, similar age, good family background, second legitimate son, favored by the Grand Princess above, only sister being a close friend—essentially perfectly matching our A-Ning's requirements.

Had the other party made a move first, likely some matters would have been settled when the two met. Between him and A-Ning, unnecessary complications would inevitably have arisen.

Simply youthful infatuation, yet unable to let go of pride, plus what the heart desired happened to diverge completely from imagination, unwilling to admit it, that's all.

Talented scholar, huh!

Situ Jing inwardly scoffed.

Indeed hitting the nail on the head.

"Then... husband, aren't you angry?" An Ning turned questioningly, answered by the other's still gentle light laugh:

"If speaking of jealousy, certainly some exists. But someone as lovely as A-Ning not being liked would be strange..."

Though saying this, when An Ning woke the next day it was nearly noon. Recalling last night's various absurdities, An Ning couldn't help tutting softly:

Indeed, men's mouths are deceiving demons.

Without summoning attendants from outside, An Ning skillfully opened the system monitoring:

In the familiar courtyard, a bamboo-green figure soon came into view. Compared to last night, Xie Heng's appearance appeared even more haggard, dark circles under his eyes, staring unblinkingly at the bare dry tree trunk before him as if lost in some memory...

Seeing the all-too-familiar osmanthus tree in the courtyard, An Ning's suspicions were further confirmed.

Though the original body didn't love reading and lacked literary skill, she was an extremely aesthetically minded and vividly interesting young girl. In her previous life after marriage, traces of the young girl were everywhere in the courtyard and even rooms.

The exquisite and interesting big-bellied clay figures on the antique shelf, the ever-changing bouquets of flowers before the windowsill that never grew tiresome, the wooden wind chimes tinkling under the eaves, even the wisteria wall along the corridor—all arranged under the young girl's personal direction.

The osmanthus tree before them was the same, even its position showed no difference at all.

Come to think of it, seems like since six years ago, this person's figure hasn't been seen at palace banquets. Probably restricted by the Grand Princess within the residence.

Six years ago—if she remembered correctly, wasn't this exactly when the original body's second sister died, or when An Ning married...

An Ning couldn't help poking a certain system:

"Speaking of that lifetime when that system didn't arrive, could the original body and Xie Heng have been a pair?"

Probably quite happy too, the legendary sweet novel male and female leads? Bickering lovers? Thinking of the terrifyingly strong luck on the original body, An Ning couldn't help speculating.

Within her consciousness, the system pretended nothing was wrong, blinking its dog eyes.

Oh, really! What is this, some form of male lead memory awakening? An Ning couldn't help tutting.

But seeing the unconcealable depression and pain on his face, plus the faint guilt and regret he showed when looking at her earlier, even if he truly gained some memories, they probably weren't good ones.

Very likely from the lifetime when the original body met her unfortunate death.

Those two in their previous life, how to put it...

An Ning couldn't help sighing.

Actually, given the original body's nature, if after marriage her husband truly treated her poorly, even with coldness and annoyance, at most they would have lived separately. As long as living conditions weren't bad and no one above made things difficult or criticized harshly, she probably would have quickly relaxed and found her own joys.

The reason for such prolonged pain and depression in her previous life lay in reality not being so.

Who could have imagined that the pillow partner who granted her almost every wish after marriage, spending days in intimate contact, still harbored someone else's shadow in his heart—this person being the painful source against whom she'd been compared for so long.

Thus upon "coincidentally" discovering that collected poetry anthology, upon asking and seeing her pillow partner's hesitation, her heart completely collapsed.

And yet this pain, no one could help.

Because in everyone's eyes, Xie Heng was undoubtedly an extremely considerate excellent husband. Famous from youth, thoughtful toward his wife, even when the original body failed to conceive a year after marriage, he still had no concubines or maidservants by his side. As mother-in-law, the Grand Princess also didn't blame her at all.

One could say except for having someone else in his heart, anyone would find no fault.

Under such circumstances, even the original body's mother could only offer gentle comfort, advising her to release this person and live her own life well.

Besides so-called marital affection, there were many interesting, precious things around worth cherishing.

The original body was broad-minded anyway; actually during that previous lifetime she had already decided to completely let go, even considering ignoring him henceforth and living separately.

Indeed, delicious treasure already marked by jackals—how could it not be completely devoured...

Taking a glance at the pale, thin face before her, An Ning decisively looked no more.

Things having reached this point, who could be blamed?

But considering Mu Yang's occasional mentions of this person repeatedly visiting the Guardian Temple, An Ning again sincerely said for Master Wuxiang: Amitabha!

Excellent, excellent!